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Computer Science at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
87 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
88
Optimistic
87
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $79,519/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #58 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,026K $978K $731K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.7x 18.8x 14.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.4x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 88 87 80

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (8.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$108,566
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $79,519 at Washington State University come in 8% above the national median of $73,713 for Computer Science programs.

The 18.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 72% task exposure — and the 29% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $79,519 far exceeding the $20,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #58 out of 345 programs, Washington State University's Computer Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,519 to $108,566 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

Washington State University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 21,583 in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at Washington State University

Computer Engineering ($87,135) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($83,894) Construction Engineering Technologies ($80,404) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,874) Civil Engineering ($74,841) Mechanical Engineering ($72,690) Chemical Engineering ($69,820) Management Information Systems and Services ($59,490)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Washington State University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 87/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Washington State University's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Washington State University rank so high for Computer Science?
The #58 ranking out of 345 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →